FREE LECTURE BY ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHER
Brooks Institute Grad Chris Rainier Presents and Discusses His Work

April 9 -- Santa Barbara, CA – Brooks Institute is hosting a lecture and exhibition featuring world-renowned documentary photographer Chris Rainier. Rainier, a graduate of Brooks, will speak at the Lobero Theater, 33 E. Canon Perdido, on Wednesday, May 10, at 6 p.m. Following his program, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Rainier will be present to meet guests at a reception and exhibition of his work at Brooks Institute’s nearby campus and gallery, 27 E. Cota Street. His work will remain at the gallery until July 14, 2006. This event is free and open to the public.

Rainier, a National Geographic Society Fellow and co-director of the National Geographic Societies Cultural Ethnosphere Program, also directs the All Roads Photography Program under the auspices of the National Geographic Cultures Program. One of the world’s leading documentary photographers, he focuses his efforts on capturing both the natural wilderness and indigenous cultures around the world on film. He has published several photographic books, including Keepers of the Spirit and Where Masks still Dance, New Guinea, and Ancient Marks, about traditional tribal tattooing around the planet. His photographs have appeared in Life magazine, Time magazine, National Geographic Publications, Smithsonian magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, Outside magazine, The New Yorker, and many others.

As an acclaimed photojournalist, Rainier has photographed global cultural and conflict, famine, and war throughout the world, including Somalia, Sarajevo/Bosnia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Iraq and, recently, the Tsunami disaster in Indonesia, for numerous publications, including Time Magazine & The New York Times. In winter, 2005, Rainier’s photography was featured at a special exhibition entitled ‘Portraits of Place’ at the Santa Barbra Museum of Art, as part of a tribute to the outstanding contributions that Brooks Institute graduates have made to the world of photography.

For more information about the program, call (805) 690-7622. To visit Chris Rainier’s website, visit www.chrisrainier.com

About Brooks Institute
With campuses in Santa Barbara and Ventura, Calif., Brooks Institute of Photography has a 60-year legacy of providing world-class visual arts education. The Brooks Institute offers Master of Science, Bachelor of Arts and Associate of Arts degrees and Diploma programs in the following fields of study – professional photography, visual journalism, film and video production and Graphic Design.  Brooks’ graduates are visible nationally and internationally, working for distinguished organizations including National Geographic, Smithsonian, Los Angeles Times and other national media outlets, including Hallmark Publishing, Cousteau Society, HBO, Kodak and other industry leaders in visual media fields.  For more information about Brooks Institute of Photography, visit www.brooks.edu.